THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO (November 5, 2018) – Wataynikaneyap Power LP (“Wataynikaneyap Power”) is pleased to announce that Hatch Ltd., it’s Owner’s Engineer, has issued the Engineering, Procurement, Construction Request for Proposal packages (“EPC RFP”) for the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project.
The EPC RFP was issued to the following previously-announced pre-qualified proponents:
These teams are invited to respond to the RFP with detailed proposals outlining how they will approach the project and meet the outlined criteria. Submissions will be received by early 2019 and subsequently evaluated and an announcement of the successful proponent(s) will follow. Construction will then begin, upon receipt of regulatory approval of the Environmental Assessment and the Leave to Construct Application from the Ontario Energy Board.
“The release of the RFP to the pre-qualified proponents is the next significant milestone of the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission project,” said Mike Jardine, COO, Wataynikaneyap Power PM. “Considerable effort has gone into completing the RFP and we look forward to the next phase of the project.”
The Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project is an unprecedented First Nations-led project to build 1800 km of transmission lines in Northwestern Ontario to connect 17 First Nations to the Ontario power grid. Wataynikaneyap Power LP is a licensed transmission project equally owned by 22 First Nation communities (51%), who partnered with experienced industry leader, Fortis Inc. (49%). FortisOntario Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., and an electricity transmission and distribution utility holding company based in Ontario, owns 49% of the general partner of Wataynikaneyap Power and acts as the project manager.
“Wataynikaneyap has reached another milestone. The release of the RFP is another significant step forward to connecting 17 First Nations to reliable, accessible power,” said Margaret Kenequanash, CEO Wataynikaneyap Power LP. “We are delighted to see continued momentum on the project and look forward to working with the selected team(s) during construction.”
These remote First Nation’s communities are currently living off the grid, relying on very expensive diesel to power their homes and businesses – a situation that has become financially unsustainable, environmentally risky, and insufficient to meet community needs. The communities are not able to connect homes and are unable to pursue economic and business opportunities. A majority of the remote communities are at capacity with their diesel generators or face electrical load restrictions limiting the construction of homes and other critical infrastructure that would support community growth.
“FortisOntario is proud to support the construction and operation of 1,800 km of transmission lines and bringing safe, reliable electricity to these 17 First Nations communities,” said Scott Hawkes, President & CEO of FortisOntario. “Utilities like ours have a significant role to play in improving social and economic outcomes in our country’s First Nation communities and we look forward to the next phase of the project.”
The Governments of Canada and Ontario announced a funding framework for the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Line Project in March 2018. The funding framework allows for a viable transmission business with First Nations and Fortis Inc. participating as the equity investors. The funding framework goals include connection of remote First Nations communities, capacity building and the establishment of a viable transmission business to be eventually owned and operated 100% by First Nations.
For further information on the RFP, please contact the Owner’s Engineer, Hatch Ltd:
James Dalton
James.Dalton@hatch.com
Adeel Afzal
Adeel.afzal@hatch.com
Media Contact
Kristine Carmichael
FortisOntario
Kristine.carmichael@fortisontario.com